The Christmas Card "photo shoot"

It's been a little while since my last post but the holidays wore me out! Between my kids, working in a CRAZY busy restaraunt, buying gifts (O.K., so I didn't really mind that part), family gatherings, decorating and then un-decorating, cleaning out all the old toys and a total lack of sleep - well, I've just been too damn tired. We had a blast, don't get me wrong but I'm so glad the holidays are over.

I haven't even taken too many pictures lately. We went to the science museum last week-end which they loved! I'll try to get a video uploaded of that day soon.

But what I realized was I had not shared some of my favorite pictures from the Christmas card photo shoot. I took the kids to the Botanical Gardens the day before Thanksgiving and literally took pictures for hours (171 total pic's to be exact).

Believe me when I say that I really narrowed the pictures down to the ones I love the most. I've been trying to get the actual card in this post but my computer ignorance is standing in the way. I'll figure it out, just not tonight.

I have not edited any of these BUT this first shot is probably my favorite of the day and it was edited by the wonderfully talented Anna of hankandwillie.wordpress.com.
I love it so much I've got an 8 x 10 ready to go up in the bedroom. I am also showing you the unedited version so you can see what a huge difference she made in the shot.

The beautifully edited version: